Liquid dispensing means



May 10, 1955 Filed April 27, 1954 P. M. SCHMITT ET AL i LIQUID DISPENSING MEANS 4 Shts-Sheet 1 INVENTORS P405 A! Jcv/m/rr x amuea. Mia/05604415 ATTORNEY May 10, 1955 P. M. SCHMITT ETAL LIQUID DISPENSING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 27, 1954 M 5 Y 0 WW m I a M H, L \HIIIIIIIIIIHIEPI; Q/l/ lll ll lll PM m 7 5/ F A. /0 J 5 u ii! g z w 92 9 May 10, 1955 P. M. SCHMITT ETAL 2,708,057

I LIQUID DISPENSING MEANS Filed April 27, 1954 4 Sheets-Slgeet 4 ATTORNEY LIQUID DISPENSING MEANS Page M. Schmitt, Kensington, Md., and Samuel M. Lauderdale, Arlington, Va.

Application April 27, 1954, Serial No. 425,830

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-482) This invention relates to a vented pouring spout comprising a venting device and to a liquid container having said pouring spout in combination therewith, said spout being capable of attachment to the container from which liquid is desired to be removed smoothly, continuously,

and at a high velocity.

In the transportation of liquids by means of one gallon,

five gallon, and ten gallon containers rather than bymeans of freight car containers there has arisen the problem of removing therefrom the liquid efficiently and rapidly at the point of destination into larger containers such as fifty-five gallon drums. The method of removing said liquids comprises the removal of a cap from each container at its opening, inserting in said opening a pouring spout, and then tilting said container to enable the liquid to flow therefrom by gravity. In carrying out this procedure with pouring spouts presently known and available,

such as the commonly known flexible spout which is approximately sixteen inches in length and approximately one inch in inside diameter, the procedure has been too time consuming and inefficient due primarily to the entrapment of air inside the liquid in the pouring spout from the mouth portion right down to the discharge opening thereof, which phenomenon is accompanied by the well-known gurgling sounds and periodic surges of the liquid through said spout and at said discharge opening. As is well known, there results spillage of the liquid as well as a great loss in working man hours in transferring the liquid.

The vented pouring spouts, the venting devices per se, and the combination of the liquid container and the vented pouring spouts of this invention enable the smooth,

continuous, and the high velocity removal of liquids from one, five, ten gallon, and any other size liquid container without spillage and with great efficiency. For example, a five gallon liquid container of this invention having a lubricant oil, approximately 0.9 sp. gr., may be emptied Q:

by tilting progressively to an inverted position in approxi-, mately thirty seconds. In other words, a five gallon container of this invention having a spout approximately sixteen inches long andvone inch inside diameter may be emptied without spillage in approximately thirty seconds.

Thus, it is seen that with our invention the removal of liquids from containers can be easily and efliciently accomplished.

' An object of this invention is to provide a vented pouring spout capable of attachment to a liquid container at the opening thereof which allows for the smooth, continuous, and high velocity removal of liquid from said container.

" A further object of this invention is to provide a pouring device capable of attachment to a liquid container 7 at the opening thereof, which allows for the smooth, continuous, and high velocity removal of liquid from said container, said pouring device comprising a pouring spout, a'n' airve'nting deviceatta'ched thereto at the mouth portion of-said spout, and a means for fitting said spout and venting-*device to the container at its opening in a substantially leakproof manner.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide an air venting device capable of attachment to a pouring spout to be fitted into a liquid container at its opening whereby liquid can be removed from said container smoothly, continuously, and at a high velocity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a liquid container having attached thereto at its opening a pouring spout having a venting device at its mouth portion and positioned within said container in such a manner thatthe air can enter the container through said device without becoming entrapped in the liquid passing through the pouring spout, whereby liquid can be removed from said container smoothly, continuously, and at a high velocity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a venting device for attachment at the mouth portion of a pouring spout to be fitted into a liquid container at its opening in such a manner that the air replacing the liquid removed from said container can be introduced directly into the liquid in the vicinity of the mouth portion of the spout, whereby liquid can be removed from said container smoothly, continuously, and at a high velocity without necessity of any structural components, in combination with said venting device, for routing the air entering the container to the space formed as a result of the removal of liquid therefrom.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the liquid container and vented pouring spout, also indicating the positioning of same in the liquid container, and of the means for attaching said spout to the container.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the venting device taken in the direction of the arrow A.

' Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 22 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the vented pouring spout, also indicating the posiv tion of same in the liquid container, said view being taken on a line similar to line 22 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of another embodi ment of the vented pouring spout, also indicating the position of same in the liquid container, said view being taken on a line similar to line 2-2 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the vented pouring spout, also indicating the position of same in the liquid container, said view being taken on a line similar to line 22 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the vented pouring spout, also indicating the position of same in the liquid container, said view being taken on a line similar to line 22 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the vented pouring spout, also indicating the position of same in the liquid container, said view being taken on a line similar to line 2-2 of Figure 2.

. Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the vented pouring spout, also indicating the position of same in the liquid container, said view being taken on a line similar to line 2--2 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device of Figure 9.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device of Figure 6.

Figure 14 is a perspective view, partially in section, of one component part of the device of Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of another component part of the device of Figure 5.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of still another component part of the device of Figure 5.

Like numerals designate similar components.

More specifically, a container 1 is provided with a pouring spout 2 having attached thereto a venting device 3, positioned within said container, as shown in the accompanying drawings. The venting device, in all embodiments, is positioned at the mouth of the pouring spout and, in combination therewith, forms the vented pouring spout of our invention. The so-formed vented pouring spout is positioned in the liquid container at its opening and the structure thereof is such that the venting device thereof is always in the vicinity of said container opening thereby obviating the necessity of a means for leading the air entering therethrough to the empty space formed at the bottom of the container by the removal of the liquid therefrom. The structure of our device is such that the air entering the container through the venting device is introduced thereto in the immediate vicinity of the liquid being removed therefrom without becoming entrapped in the liquid as it is passing from the container proper through the spout, thereby allowing the liquid to flow through the spout, at its discharge opening, smoothly, continuously, and at a high velocity. In all figures of the drawings, the components are shown with the container being in an inverted position.

Referring now to one embodiment of our invention,

as shown in Figures l, 2, and 3, the liquid container comprises the container 1, the air venting device 3, and the pouring spout 2, the venting device and the spout constituting our vented pouring spout. The vented pouring spout, more specifically, includes the shielding member 4 having joined thereto the washer 5 which fits around the mouth portion 6 of the spout 2. At the top portion of said member 4 are turned-in flanges 7 having holes 8 therein for receiving screws 9 whereby the plate 119 is fastened thereto. Joined to plate 119 are tubes 10 constituting air passageways, as shown, and having air outlet openings 11 and air inlet openings 22. Positioned over said openings 11 are flapper valves 12, which are held between plate 119 and top member 13 which is attached thereto and also to member 4 by screws 9 at holes 8, as shown. Said member 13 has therein grooves 14, as shown, said grooves being so formed that member 13 forms a top shield about the openings 15 of tubes 10. Positioned within said grooves 14 are spring members 16 of substantially semicircular configuration applying their force against valves 12 urging said valves into closed position when liquid is not being removed from the container and allowing said valves to open when liquid is being removed through said spout 2 and air is entering said container 1 through said tubes 10 and openings 15.

The flapper valves 12 and the spring members 16 may be of any thin flexible material such as neoprene. Plate member 13 is so shaped that the openings 15 are shielded from the liquid passing into the pouring spout 2 and in such a manner that the air entering the container therethrough will be prevented from being entrapped in the liquid being removed. The shape of plate member 13 is more clearly shown in Figure 2. Adjacent to washer 5 which has holes to receive tubes 10, as shown, is a rubber bushing 17 positioned around the neck portion 18 of spout 2, said bushing 17 having holes therethrough, coinciding with the holes of washer 5, to receive the tubes 10. Adjacent to said bushing 1'7 and positioned around the neck portion 18 are fiber washer 19 and metal washer 20, each having openings coinciding with the openings of the bushing 17 to receive the tubes 10. Fastened to the pouring spout is member 21 having a cam shaped upper surface which is positioned directly adjacent said washer 20. By manually moving member 21 in the direction of the arrow B the cam surface is urged against washer and the rubber bushing 17 is axially compressed whereby there is brought about a radial expansion of the bushing and the pouring spout structure is held and sealed in the container opening by a friction fit.

The embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5 are similar to that of Figure 3.

In the embodiment of Figure 4 plate member 13, spring members 16, flapper valves 12, plate 119, washers 95, 99, and 200, and bushing 117 are utilized. Tubes 24, which like tubes 10 in the embodiment of Figure 3, constitute air passageways having air outlet openings 11 and air inlet openings 22, are so positioned that they are joined to plate 119 and to the pouring spout 2 at its neck portion 18 into the openings 25 thereof of the same peripheral configuration as said tubes 24 at points directly adjacent to the washer. The tubes 24 are formed of springlike and resilient material which makes it possible to bend same in order to position same into said openings 25, as shown in Figure 4. To insure a leak-proof fit, sealing material, viz. weld material 26, is positioned at the inner wall of said spout 2 at the junction of the walls of tubes 24 and the openings 25, as shown.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the body member 28 is positioned adjacent the plate member 13, said member 28 having the longitudinal bores 33 therethrough, said bores constituting air passageways. Portions 29 and 30 of said bores constitute the air outlet openings and air inlet openings, respectively, of said passageways. As in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4, flapper valves 12 are positioned over the air outlet openings 29, and spring members 16 are positioned within the grooves 14. Posi tioned within the lowermost portion of member 28 and adjacent the mouth portion 6 of the spout 2 is Washer 31 having at its periphery a series of grooves 32 therearound and therethrough. The inner wall portion 34 of member 28 is positioned adjacent the inner wall of spout 2 at the mouth portion 6 thereof as clearly shown in Figure 5. Between said wall portion and said mouth portion 6 of spout 1 is inserted a circular liquid sealing member 35. As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 14, there are passageways 101 through the body member 28 which coincide with the threaded holes 103 of washer 31, positioned between the grooves 32, to receive bolting members 102 for securing member 28 to washer 31 whereby the component parts are held in place on the spout. Adjacent said washer 31 is a rubber bushing 36 provided with axial grooves 37 therethrough at its inner periphery, as clearly shown in Figure 16. The cross-section of said grooves 37 can be of a semi-circle or of a Gothic arch. Adjacent said bushing 36 are fiber washer 38 and metal washer 39, each having therethrough axial grooves 40 and 41, respectively, said grooves coinciding with each other and with grooves 37 of bushing 36.

In each of the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5, as in the embodiment of Figure 3, member 21 is utilized to seal and hold the pouring spout structure in the container opening by a friction fit.

The embodiment of Figure 6 comprises a tube 42 having an air outlet opening 43 and an air inlet opening 44, said tube 42 being positioned adjacent the inner wall of spout 2 at its neck portion 18 so that it fits into opening 45 in the wall of spout 2, preferably adjacent the neck portion 18. Attached to tube 42 adjacent the opening 43 is the dish-shaped shielding member 46 having the indented portion 47. Joined by holding member 48 to member 46 at 47 is the second shielding member 49, to which is attached spring member 16 for holding flapper valve 12 over outlet opening 43. Flapper valve 12 is also held in position by members 49 and 46, as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 13. The spout 2 is provided with a threaded portion 50 which is engaged with the threaded portion 51 of the container 1 to secure the spout 2 to the container 1.

The embodiment of Figure 7 comprises a U-shaped tube 52,. constituting an air passageway, having an air outlet opening 53 in its bottom portion, as shown, and air inlet openings 54 coinciding with and fitting into the openings 55 in the walls of the spout 2, preferably at the neck portion 18 thereof. Attached to tube 52 at the portions thereof near the opening 53 is a dish-shaped shielding member 57. Also attached to tube 52 adjacent opening 53 is shielding member 58. Sphere 59, acting as a valve and made of a light, synthetic material such as nylon, is confined by member 58 and held by member 57 in such a position that it will, when the container 1 is held in an upright position of no liquid flow, cover opening 53. When container 1 is held in a liquid flow position, the sphere 59 will be caused to unseat from opening 53 by the air passing through tube 52 but will not be caused to fall into the container due to the fact that members 57 and 58 are of such configurations and structure that sphere 59 will be thereby confined. Around the mouth portion 6 of spout 2 is positioned washer 95 having 1 adjacent thereto rubber bushing 117 which fits around the neck portion 18 ofspout 2. Adjacent to bushing 117 are washers 99 and 200, as shown.

In the embodiment of Figure 7, member 21 is also utilized to seal or hold the pouring spout structure in the container opening by a friction fit.

The embodiment of Figure 8 comprises tube 60 constituting an air passageway having an air outlet opening 61 and an air inlet opening 62 which coincides and is fitted into opening 63 in the wall of the spout 2 preferably at the neck portion 18 thereof. Adjacent to the air outlet opening 61 of tube 60 there is attached to said tube 60 a dish-shaped shielding member 64 to which is attached a second shielding member 65 having webs 66 joined thereto, as shown. Positioned over air outlet opening 61 is sphere 59 which is confined by members 64, 65, and 66. Said sphere 59 is made of a light material, such as nylon, and acts as a valve for opening 61. Here also, the spout 2 is provided with a threaded portion 50 which is engaged with the threaded portion 51 of the container 1 to secure the spout 2 to the container 1.

The embodiment of Figure 9 comprises a sleeve 67 which is fitted into the spout 2 at its neck portion 18 and is there held by a friction or a sweated fit. Attached to said sleeve is tube 68 having air inlet opening 69 coinciding with opening 70 of sleeve 67, said openings 69 and 70 coinciding with opening 71 of the spout 2. The tube 68 terminates with a U-shaped portion 72, as shown, said portion 72 having air outlet opening 73 which coin,- cides with an opening 74 in shielding member 75 attached to said portion 72, as shown. Said U-shaped portion 72 of tube 68 is attached to the dish-shaped shielding member 76 which is attached to tube 68 adjacent the U-shaped portion thereof. Positioned, as shown, over openings 73 and 74 is sphere 59, which, as before, acts as a valve. The sphere 59 is confined and held in its position by members 75 and 76, as shown. Attached to shield 76 is a supporting strut member 77 which is also attached to sleeve 67, said member 77 acting as a support for said shield 76. Around the mouth portion 6 of spout 2 is positioned washer 95 having adjacent thereto rubber bushing 117 and washers 99 and 200, which are here also utilized with member 21 to seal or hold the pouring spout structure in the container opening by a friction fit.

Our vented pouring devices function in the following manner:

In the device of Figure 3, the air enters the liquid through the air tubes 10. As the liquid passes from the container to the spout, there is formed in the liquid portion adjacent the air outlet openings what is commonly referred to as a running vacuum. As the liquid is removed, air enters at the outlet openings 11, the air pressure causing the flapper valves 12 to open against the force applied thereto by the spring members 16. The shielding members 4 and the shielding portions of the plate 13 as well as the spring members 16 and the flapper valves 12 form a shield about the air outlet openings 11, thus causing to form in the direct vicinity of said openings a zone of slow moving liquid into which the air enters in the form of bubbles.

The devices of Figures 4, 5, and 6 function in substantially the same manner as does the device of Figure 3. However, in the device of Figure 5, the air enters the bores 33 by first passing through the grooves of members 39, 38, 36, and 31.

Should the flapper valves 12 be omitted, the foregoing devices will still function properly, but there will be leakage of liquid through said air passageways at the start and at the end of the pouring operation.

The devices of Figures 7, 8, and 9 operate in the same manner as do previously described embodiments, but utilize a spherically shaped valve instead of the flapper valve. Here also, the valve members help form the shielding portion about the air outlet openings to create the zone of slow moving liquid thereabout.

It is to be particularly noted that in our devices the proper functioning of the shielding members, viz. to shield the air outlet openings, is not dependent upon the position of the container during the removal of the liquid therefrom. In other words, our shielding members, and thus our device, do not rely for proper functioning upon the position of the container. The devices will function properly, viz. bring about a smooth, continuous, and high velocity flow of liquid, no matter what the position of the container in pouring position. r

Further, should the spherically shaped valves 59 b omitted, the foregoing devices will still function properly, but there will be leakage of liquid through the air pas.- sageway at the start and at the end of the pouring opera tion.

Because of the novel arrangements in our vented pouring devices, there is at all times formed about the air outlet openings a zone of slow moving liquid as compared to the fast moving liquid entering the pouring spout at its mouth portion. Thus air is safely introduced into the liquid in the vicinity of the mouth portion of the spout and the container opening without any leakage through the air venting means and without the entrapment of air in the rapid flow of liquid through the spout. Also, because of the combination, including air shielding means about the air outlet opening, said opening is at all times shielded from the liquid passing through the pouring spout and, again, air is prevented from becoming entrapped therein. In addition, because of our novel arrangement, the air can be introduced directly into the liquid in the vicinity of the container opening and is not required to enter the space adjacent the bottom of the container.

Many alterations and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is set forth in the appended claims which are to be construed as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A vented pouring spout adapted to be attached to a liquid container at its opening for allowing liquid to flow therefrom smoothly, continuously, and at a high velocity, comprising, in combination, a pouring spout having a mouth portion adapted to be fitted into said container opening, a neck portion, and a discharge opening, and an air venting device attached to said pouring spout at the mouth portion thereof, whereby air will enter said container as the liquid passes therefrom through said pouring spout, said air venting device including at least one tube constituing an air passageway, said tube having at least one air inlet opening adapted to lead to the outside of said container and at least one air outlet opening adapted to be positioned within said container in the vicinity of said container opening, a shielding means adapted to be positioned within the container for said air outlet opening for preventing air entering said container through said air passageway from being entrapped in the liquid flowing from the container through said spout, said shielding means comprising a first shielding member positioned about at least a portion of said tube constituting said air passageway and between said air outlet opening, on one hand, and said mouth portion of the pouring spout and said air inlet opening, on the other hand, and a second shielding member positioned substantially directly adjacent said .first shielding member and connected thereto and about at least a portion of said air outlet opening, a flapper valve over said outlet opening, and a spring vmeans for holding said flapper valve in position over said outlet opening, said spring means being held in position by said second shielding member, whereby said valve will open said air outlet opening during the flow of liquid from the container through said spout, thereby allowing air to enter said container to replace the liquid removed therefrom.

2. A pouring device comprising a vented pouring spout adapted to be .attached to a liquid container at its opening for allowing liquid to flow therefrom smoothly, continuously, and at a high velocity, comprising, in combination, a pouring spout having a mouth portion adapted to be fitted'into said container opening, a neck portion, and an air venting device at the mouth portion of said spout, means for attaching and detaching said pouring device to a liquid container at the mouth portion of said container, said means being attached to the pouring spout at a portion thereof adjacent the neck portion of said spout, said air ventingidevice including at least one tube constituting an air passageway, said tube having at least one air inlet opening adapted to lead to the outside of said container and at least one air outlet opening adapted to be positioned within said container in the vicinity of said container opening, a shielding means adapted to be positioned within the container for said air outlet opening for preventing air entering said container through said air passageway from being entrapped in the liquid flowing from the container through said spout, said shielding means comprising a first shielding member positioned about at least a portion of said tube constituting said air passageway and between .said air outlet opening, on one hand, and said mouth portion of the pouring spout and said air inlet opening, on the other hand, and a second shielding member positioned substantially directly adjacent said first shielding rnem'berand connected thereto and about at least a portion of said air outlet opening, a flapper valve over said outlet opening, a spring means for holding said flapper valve in position over said outlet opening, said spring means being held in position by said second shielding member, and .a means on said pouring spout for fitting said spout into the container opening in a substantially leakproof manner, said means being positioned about said neck portion of said pouring spout and between the first shielding member and the said means for attaching and detaching said pouring device to a liquid container, said means having a plurality of passageways, at least one of which coincides with said air inlet opening and terminates at the outside of said container, whereby said valve will open said air outlet opening duringthe fiow of liquid from the container through said spout, thereby allowing air to enter said container to replace the liquid removed therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,020,413 Gruver Mar. 19, 1912 1,826,838 Stump et al Oct. 13, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,949 Switzerland Mar. 8, 1898 95,352 Switzerland July 1, 1922 272,124 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1951 586,1 ll France Mar. 16, 1925 

